The Review

Wingman, like many other dating apps that have emerged lately, is sort of a spinoff of the whole Tinder thing. It’s quite similar in terms of look and feel, and has the same basic interface: you get a series of profiles, and you swipe on them to indicate your approval. However, in terms of its other features, it’s actually a huge departure, in one central respect, which is that you don’t choose your own matches. Instead, a friend makes your matches for you.

This is a slightly confusing idea, so let’s get into it in more detail. Basically, you agree to have a friend swipe on your behalf. Then, the people they choose are presented with the invitation to connect with you. The whole process is absolutely invisible to you, unless you get a match. Now, this definitely seems counterintuitive, since the whole idea of online dating is that you can control the process yourself, rather than relying on meeting somebody interesting at a bar.

But it actually makes sense. Seasoned Tinder users have probably been out on lots of bad dates. This indicates that maybe our judgment about our own dating lives is flawed. Why not let a trusted friend take charge? Also, the way that Wingman is structured means that the process is rejection-free. You don’t run into that situation, so common on other dating apps, where you get excited about a potential date but they turn you down. It’s a positive experience, at least as far as the matching goes. (Unless, that is, you don’t get any matches whatsoever.)

There are some quirks that this mechanism introduces. First of all, you can’t actually generate your own profile. You need a friend to do it. This will be a big downside for many users, since a lot of people use dating apps when they’re new to a city, or a dating scene. Not everyone will have a dedicated friend who wants to spend a bunch of time helping them get a date or get laid. However, there’s an upside, too: your profile consists of positive things your friends say about you. This is much more effective, in terms of providing evidence of your worth, than a profile you write alone.

All of this means that it’s best to think of Wingman as a matchmaking app as much as a dating app. It ends up being a lot like the experience of letting a friend Tinder for you, which is a method that many users resort to anyway. Many users will find this refreshing, and it’s a great alternative to paying a lot of money for a professional matchmaker. It’s a fun concept. But there is a clear drawback to being an early adopter of a new kind of dating app: there just aren’t as many users as with more established dating apps and sites, like Tinder or Bumble.

In terms of the app itself, it’s slick, well-designed, and nice to look at. Also, it offers a couple of extra features that supplement the core experience. First of all, your friends who set up matches for you earn a point on a leaderboard for every completed match they facilitate. This basic gamification can prove to be a lot of fun, as it encourages competition. As well, if you’re matching for a friend but you see someone you’d like to match with yourself, you can suggest to one of your friends that they hook you up, with something called the “nudge” feature. It’s a feature that gives you at least a tiny bit of influence over who your friends set you up with.

A couple of users have reported that the app can be buggy, with unexpected lag and freeze-ups. This is to be expected, since Wingman is relatively new. It’s also hard to complain about this because it’s a totally free app. All in all, it’s a promising new entry into the highly saturated online dating market, and definitely worth a try, provided that you have friends who are eager to play matchmaker for you.

IN-DEPTH

Sign-Up Process

It’s simple, but unusual, in that you need to be signed up by a friend. They write your profile for you, in the form of a testimonial. If you approve of what they’ve written, you combine that with photos from your Facebook account, and you’re up and running. It’s a very quick process if you have a friend around.

Members & Messaging

The app’s messaging is quite simple—it’s exactly the same as Tinder, or any other IM service. You already know how to use it. In terms of the user base, it tends to be young and a bit artsy. The service apparently attracts people who are tired of mainstream apps. Keep in mind, though, that there aren’t that many users on it, because it’s a new and somewhat niche service.

Key Features

-Friends make your matches for you

-Profile based on testimonials of your friends

-Nudge feature allows you to influence your friends’ choices

-Point scoring encourages friends to compete over who can give you the most matches

Safety & Security

As is fairly standard for social media websites these days, Wingman reserves the right to collect information about how you use the app through cookies. They then distribute this information for targeted advertising. Additionally, their security policy is somewhat vague: they remark that they “take security measures to help safeguard your personal information from unauthorized access and disclosure”, but offer no guarantees. This is somewhat understandable, however, considering that many users will occasionally access the app from open WiFi networks. For more, visit the site’s privacy policy page.

Noteworthy

The app made quite a splash in the press, due to its novel nature—it’s been covered by Mashable, NBC, the Verge, and others. This probably means that the app’s currently limited user base will grow.

Main Competitors

Hinge

Tinder

Bumble

Screenshots

Pricing

Total Price Per Option

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